Over the past week, the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has been hard at work combating an alarming surge in criminal activity within the city’s designated evacuation zones. Since January 7th, SMPD officers have stopped hundreds of individuals and made over 40 arrests, highlighting the chaos and lawlessness that have become all too familiar under California’s soft-on-crime policies.
The individuals arrested—none of whom are Santa Monica residents—were found in violation of emergency orders, city curfews, and other laws, including burglary, drug possession, and firearm violations.
“Ten subjects were arrested for burglary (three individuals in one incident on 18th Street, four individuals in the 200 Block of Euclid, and two individuals at 10th and Carlyle),” according to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD).
“Six were in possession of burglary tools. The rest were arrested for other violations, including curfew, drug possession, driving violations, outstanding warrants, parole and probation violations, etc. Two of the individuals were in possession of concealed handguns. None of the arrestees are from Santa Monica.”
Here are the details of some arrests made in the evacuation areas, according to the SMPD’s press release:
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, January 9th
Type of Incident: Traffic Stop – Evacuation Area
Location: 10th Street / Carlyle
Suspect(s): Dorantes, Miguel Angel (May-07-2002), Pacheco Magana, Dominic (Sep-30-2006)
At 4:39 PM, officers assigned to the mandatory evacuation area observed a white cargo van fail to stop at the intersection of 11th and Carlyle. The officers initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle and found it occupied by Dorantes, the driver, and Pacheco Magana in the passenger seat. Neither were in possession of identification.
The vehicle was missing the front license plate and displayed stolen registration stickers. During the investigation, Pacheco Magana was seen using the Watch Duty app on his phone. The app shows maps of active fires and evacuation zones, including the zones in Santa Monica. Officers searched the vehicle and located a black ski mask in between the driver’s seat and passenger seat.
They located a pair of black Nike nylon gloves in the driver’s side door. While searching the cargo area of the van, officers located three large Amazon freight tote bags and black t-shirts.
Based on the items located inside the vehicle, the location of the vehicle stop, the ski mask, and the attempt to conceal their identity and avoid detection by removing the license plate, officers arrested the duo for being in the mandatory evacuation area with the specific intent to commit residential burglaries.
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, January 10th
Type of Incident: Traffic Stop
Location: 4th Street / Alta Ave
Suspect(s): Weithorn, Christensen (Nov-17-1999)
At 1:00 AM, officers responded to 4th Street and Alta Ave to assist a UCLA PD sergeant with a traffic stop.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, later identified as Christensen Alexander Weithorn, was listed as the owner of a handgun.
Weithorn explained he was in possession of the firearm. Officers retrieved the handgun in the rear passenger seat of the vehicle. The firearm and ammunition were concealed inside a black backpack, a violation of the vehicle code (concealed firearm in a vehicle).
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, January 10th
Type of Incident: Traffic Stop
Location: 4th Street / Alta Ave
Suspect(s): Toles, Markhi (Aug-14-2004); Charles, Joshua (Dec-25-2004); Garcia, Fernando Jr (Dec-14-2002); Toles, Khamari (Aug-03-2005)
At 4:20 AM, officers from the SMPD and mutual aid officers from UCLA PD performed a traffic stop of a vehicle in the evacuation zone during the hours of the Santa Monica curfew order.
The vehicle had darkly tinted windows and license plates that did not belong to the vehicle. Officers observed multiple license plates in the front driver side of the vehicle, one of which belonged to the vehicle.
During their investigation, officers also found multiple key fobs, a key fob programmer, a window breaker, a small saw and gloves inside the vehicle. All parties inside the vehicle had multiple key fobs in their possession.
The driver and passengers were all arrested for 182(a)(1) PC (Conspiracy to Commit a Felony) and 10851(a) VC – Vehicle Theft as the felony they were attempting to commit.
Additionally, the driver of the vehicle, identified as Fernando Garcia Jr, was placed under arrest for 4463 VC (Fake/Fraudulent License Plate) and 485 PC (Misappropriated of Lost Property).
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, January 11th
Type of Incident: Burglary
Location: 400 Block San Vicente
Suspect(s): Love, Joshua Kaliel (May-09-1995)
At 10:00 PM, a Santa Monica Traffic Officer was flagged down by a witness who reported a subject was in a breezeway at an apartment building in the 400 Block of San Vicente.
The subject was seen going through cabinets in the common area and garage of the building. Officers responding to the location located a subject matching the witness’s description in the alley rear in the 600 Block of San Vicente Boulevard.
The subject, later identified as Love, saw officers and ran. He was eventually detained without incident. Love consented to a search of his person and was found to be in possession of a gold-colored window punch, a common burglary tool. Love was also in possession of one blue mechanic glove and a ski mask.
Officers canvassed the area and located the matching blue mechanic glove. One of the officers on scene recognized Love from an encounter on January 10th when the officer advised Love about the curfew and evacuation orders. He was arrested at that time for possession of methamphetamine.
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, January 11th
Type of Incident: Traffic Stop
Location: 100 Block 10th Street
Suspect(s): Moreno Hernandez, Adrian (Mar-20-1975); Becerra Garcia, Moises (Mar-24-1975); Lopez, Carmen Alicia (Aug-16-1968)
At 9:00 PM, officers were performing a periodic check in the 200 Block of 9th Street, inside the evacuation zone.
While parked at the intersection, officers observed a sedan approach the stop sign at 9th Street and San Vicente Boulevard. The officers could see the vehicle had a crumbled white paper plate that appeared to be handwritten with a black marker.
This altered plate was in violation of 4463(a)(1) CVC- Alters, forges, counterfeits, or falsifies a certificate of ownership, registration card, certificate, license, license plate, temporary license plate.
The officers stopped the vehicle containing three occupants and began an investigation. Officers located multiple tools including a hand saw, bolt cutters, and pry tools scattered in the vehicle.
The driver, Moreno, was not licensed, a violation of 12500(a)(1) CVC. He was also in possession of narcotics and burglary tools.
Passenger Lopez was in possession of drug paraphernalia and burglary tools. Becerra Garcia provided false identification to the officers and was in possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a headlamp.
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, January 11th
Type of Incident: Pedestrian Stop
Location: Ocean Avenue / San Vicente Boulevard
Suspect(s): Briones, Phillip Michael (Jul-18-1992)
At 11:00 PM, Briones was located inside the evacuation zone by SMPD officers in violation of curfew. Briones was in possession of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia.
Date/Time of Incident: Sunday, January 12th
Type of Incident: Traffic Stop
Location: Lincoln Boulevard / Montana Avenue
Suspect(s): Mujica, Timyan Exequiel (Aug-27-2004)
At 7:20 PM, while driving eastbound on the 600 block of Montana Avenue, officers observed a vehicle with no front license plate in violation of CVC 5200(a). A records check revealed the vehicle’s registration was expired in violation of CVC 4000(a).
Officers contacted Mujica who had a Felony Warrant for Grand Theft out of San Bernardino County. The warrant was confirmed, and Mujica was placed under arrest. During a search of Mujica’s vehicle, officers found a shoe box containing 24 pairs of glasses (sunglasses and prescription frames).
Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista praised his officers for their exceptional work under extraordinary circumstances.
“I am grateful for the unwavering dedication and professionalism of all the officers and professional staff in the SMPD. Over the past seven days, while the fires in Palisades tested the resilience of many, each of them stood strong, ensuring that the city of Santa Monica remained safe and secure. I am also grateful for the collaboration with our mutual aid partners who supported us on the front lines and the National Guard for helping us secure the evacuation zones and maintain entry and exit points to the closed areas,” Batista said.
The Los Angeles region is still grappling with catastrophic wildfires that have claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed over 12,000 structures, and scorched more than 60 square miles, according to CBS News.
The two largest blazes, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, remain significant threats:
- Palisades Fire: Originating in Pacific Palisades on January 7, this fire has consumed over 23,000 acres, with containment at 18%.
- Eaton Fire: Starting near Pasadena, it has burned approximately 14,000 acres and is 27% contained.
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